The amount of incentives the company would get would be tied to the number of jobs actually created over a five-year period under the agreement commissioners are to consider Tuesday.

ASHEVILLE – The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider Tuesday as much as $1.9 million in economic incentives for turbocharger manufacturer BorgWarner, which plans to add 154 jobs at its Avery's Creek manufacturing plant.

Incentives would be tied to the number of jobs created over five years under an agreement before commissioners. Payments would be smaller if fewer jobs are created.

The jobs will pay an average of more than $74,500 plus benefits and county officials said those relatively high wages — more than double the average for all workers in the county — were a significant factor in the county's commitment.

The county usually computes the amount of incentives offered using a formula tied to the expected return to the county.

"We probably expanded the formula just a little bit, but when you get over $74,000 in salary and over 150 jobs, you want to get those jobs in Buncombe County," Assistant County Manager Jon Creighton said.

The plant opened in 1980 under different ownership, and it has grown significantly over the years, Commissioner David King said. The coming expansion improves the odds that BorgWarner will stay in the county, he said. More than 650 full-time people work at the plant today. Plans to add workers were announced Wednesday.

"It's been a great asset to Buncombe County. To get this piece basically anchors them right here," he said.

Criticism of incentives deals the county has struck to lure other industrial expansion was a factor in King's loss in Tuesday's District 3 Republican Party primary for commissioner.

He said Friday that critics will call the BorgWarner payments "corporate welfare," but the county has little choice but to offer incentives like the proposed $1.9 million.

"These companies are going to go wherever they get the best deal and we have to be competitive to get them here or keep them here," said King, who also serves on the board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County.

Incentive payments are made only after the county verifies that the recipient did indeed create the jobs expected and make investments promised, Creighton said. The BorgWarner deal says payments would be made over five years.

The agreement commissioners are scheduled to consider Tuesday calls for BorgWarner to spend $55 million on equipment for its Avery's Creek plant.

That would result in $2.3 million in additional property taxes on the equipment alone paid to the county over seven years, Creighton said.

The total addition to county coffers will be much larger, he said. When a company expands its payroll, "It just kind of ripples through the economy," Creighton said.

The county agreed to pay $8.5 million over 13 years to lure New Belgium Brewing to Asheville. The city and county together will pay $4 million in cash incentives for GE Aviation's expansion in South Asheville, plus land acquisition costs.

Want to go?

Buncombe County commissioners meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on the third floor of 200 College St.